A man died in an incident that is being called an industrial accident in Huntersville, NC. The accident happened at 9:30 am and occurred in the back inside the dock area of a grocery store. The man who was fatally injured was a truck driver reportedly making a delivery to the store. The store is located on Boren Street, near Gilead Road in Huntersville. Huntersville is less than 15 miles north of Charlotte.
How Did the Accident Happen?
The accident occurred inside the loading dock during a delivery. The truck driver was apparently assisting in the delivery of a large, heavy load of goods. The truck driver was crushed when the load of mechanical equipment toppled over onto him. The cause of the accident is under investigation. The man did not work for the grocery store. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The police have categorized the incident as an industrial accident. It is likely that the accident happened when the pallets of product were moved out of the truck and onto the dock.
OSHA Investigating
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, is the governmental agency in charge of reviewing industrial accidents such as this one. Companies must comply with OSHA work standards in order to keep workplaces safe for employees and others. In this case, the agency will investigate the cause of the crash to find out exactly how the fatality occurred. Initial reports indicate that mechanical equipment, such as a forklift, may have been used. OSHA has strict rules regarding the use of forklifts, and operators must be trained before they can safely operate such equipment.
Forklifts Can Be Dangerous
Forklifts are the most common kind of powered industrial trucks. Many types of companies utilize some type of forklift to handle the delivery and storage of goods in their facility. According to OSHA, some forklift accidents happen when the operator is not properly trained. A forklift operator must be at least 18 years old and must be properly trained and certified. It is up to the employer to ensure that their employees have the necessary qualifications to operate a forklift before they use it. Employers must take steps to make sure they meet all the proper safety conditions.
Forklift Injuries Can Be Serious
Forklift accidents can be quite serious. In most cases, the equipment is used because of the extreme size or weight of items that must be moved. The forklift can easily tip or fall. If used improperly, the load can be uneven and can result in tipping the forklift or toppling the load. Injuries can be severe and may include head injuries, broken bones, lacerations, contusions, and crush injuries. In this accident, the truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries he sustained in the industrial accident at the grocery store.
If you or someone you love was hurt in an industrial accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. The negligent party is responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses due to the injury. Contact our legal team at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to request a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.charlottealertsnews.com/news/truck-driver-killed-at-lowes-food-grocery-store-loading-dock
https://www.osha.gov/powered-industrial-trucks
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/men-on-roof-1497990
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